Gingrich-to-Rittle connection clicks as unbeaten Scouts trounce Barons
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Conrad Weiser seniors Donovan Gingrich and Evan Rittle have been through a lot in their high school football careers.
As freshmen the quarterback and wide receiver watched as elder statesman Logan Klitsch and Aanjay Feliciano broke school records for passing and receiving and the Scouts qualified for the District 3 playoffs.
As sophomores and juniors the pair experienced back-to-back losing seasons at Weiser for the first time since 1980, winning a total of five games.
Now, they’re the seniors throwing and catching touchdowns and winning games.
The Scouts crushed visiting Manheim Central 38-3 Friday night in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 game in Robesonia and matched their win total from the past two seasons combined.
“We saw them on our schedule,” Gingrich said of the perennial power Barons. “Coming off a 2-8 season you’re not going to immediately think we’re going to beat them or feel confident. We thought it was going to be a tough game.
“Then as we worked in the summer, we started to buy in and get better. After the first four games we thought we could really compete with them.”
The Scouts (2-0, 5-0) didn’t just compete with the Barons: they dominated them. Conrad Weiser had 336 offensive yards and held Central to 85.
“All week at practice we were really looking forward to this one,” Rittle said. “We were excited and really looking to get this win. We bought in over the summer, bought in over the winter, and it’s really coming together.”
Gingrich’s 18-yard lob to Rittle, who came down with the contested touchdown grab, with 9:55 left in the game was the final nail in the Barons’ coffin and validation that the Scouts are for real.
“Me and Donovan got the call,” Rittle said. “He trusted me and I just did my best.”
The duo share a special bond off the field as longtime friends and that chemistry translates to the field.
“We’ve been friends for years and years and I live two minutes away from his house,” Gingrich said. “We’re together a lot. We’re seeing each other off the field, going out to eat. I guess that all comes onto the field. Our connection is great.”
Gingrich entered Friday’s game as Section 3’s highest-rated passer and Rittle was tied for first in touchdown receptions, third in receptions, and second in yards.
They’ve been able to recognize the lost time the previous two seasons and want to make the most of this senior year.
“The determination and drive that we have is the difference from last year,” Gingrich said. “We have 19 seniors and we took the last two years for granted. We thought we had a lot of time but it goes by in a second. Now we all go out there like it’s a championship game and it could be our last.”
Manheim Central (0-1, 2-3) graduated a slew of playmakers from last season’s 11-win team that narrowly lost to Bishop McDevitt in the District 3 Class 4A championship, but the Barons are still the Barons, a team that has won 607 total games, 28 L-L section titles, and a District 3-record 18 championships.
“I’m impressed with our kids,” Conrad Weiser head coach Alan Moyer said. “I said early on, and I meant it, this would be a measuring stick for us. Because even a Manheim Central Barons team that is ‘down’ is not a typical ‘down’ team. They’re still a very good football team with great athletes who are very well coached.
“So for our kids to come out and do that tonight, I’m very happy. I said to the kids earlier this week that I’m hard to please sometimes, but I am pleased tonight.”
Consider the first true test for the Scouts, whose first four opponents were a combined 4-12 entering Friday, a resounding pass. They sit atop the Section 3 standings with Cocalico and solidified themselves as a contender with Garden Spot, Warwick, Solanco, Manheim Central and Fleetwood all looking up.
They’ll get the Golden Mules, Spartans, Warriors, and Eagles in that order the next four weeks.
Gingrich passed for 118 yards and two scores and ran for another 119, including an 84-yarder in the third quarter, to lead the Scouts.
He hit Dylan Parr for a 16-yard score with 6:37 left in the second quarter to put the Scouts up 10-0.
After Manheim Central fumbled away the ensuing kickoff at its own 14, Javien Rivera pounded in a 6-yard TD run less than two minutes later.
Rivera scored again on a 2-yarder with 15.1 seconds left and Weiser led 24-0 at halftime.
Jonathan McQuillen tacked on a 15-yard TD run with 7:17 left in the third quarter after Gingrich’s 84-yarder from Weiser’s own 1-yard-line.
Katie White knocked through a 28-yard field goal with 5:06 left in the third for Manheim Central’s only points.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Manheim Central | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Conrad Weiser | 3 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Conrad Weiser | Malone, 24 FG | 2:52 |
| 2 | Conrad Weiser | Parr, 16 pass from Gingrich (Malone kick) | 6:37 |
| 2 | Conrad Weiser | Rivera, 6 run (Malone kick) | 4:48 |
| 2 | Conrad Weiser | Rivera, 2 run (Malone kick) | 0:15 |
| 3 | Conrad Weiser | McQuillen, 15 run (Malone kick) | 7:17 |
| 3 | Manheim Central | White, 28 FG | 5:06 |
| 4 | Conrad Weiser | Rittle, 18 pass from Gingrich (Malone kick) | 9:55 |
Team statistics
| Manheim Central | Conrad Weiser | |
| First downs | 7 | 18 |
| Rushes-yards | 24-33 | 37-218 |
| Passing yards | 52 | 118 |
| Total yards | 85 | 336 |
| Passes | 7-12-0 | 12-17-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 3-2 | 1-0 |
| Punts-average | 4-34.3 | 2-30 |
| Penalties-yards | 5-51 | 8-60 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Manheim Central: Moyer 6-16, Geib 14-9, Hess 1-6, Lewis 2-4, Team 1-(-2).
Conrad Weiser: Gingrich 13-119, Rivera 16-71, McQuillen 4-23, McGarrigle 2-3, Kiebach 1-2, Miller 1-0.
PASSING
Manheim Central: Lewis 7-12-0—52.
Conrad Weiser: Gingrich 12-16-0—118, Team 0-1-0—0.
RECEIVING
Manheim Central: Hess 3-29, Cook 2-3, Moyer 1-12, Morales 1-8.
Conrad Weiser: Rittle 7-68, Parr 3-33, Rivera 1-14, Miller 1-3.
